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More planting throughout the county

Published: 28/10/2019

Flintshire County Council has created an area for biodiversity in Connah’s Quay.

Our Back Yard volunteers, Groundwork, Flintshire Countryside officers Sarah Slater and Steve Lewis helped by Cllr Carolyn Thomas, Cabinet member for Streetscene and Countryside have removed amenity grass and planted a mix of colourful spring bulbs under a carpet of wildflower turf. There should be flowers from spring to the end of summer, creating a colourful area of interest for residents as well as much needed habitat for bees, butterflies and insects.

Cllr Thomas said:

“It was great to work alongside the volunteers and officers creating an area for biodiversity rather than just amenity grass in the civic centre of one of our towns. By removing the grass and laying wildflower turf, there is a better chance of success for the wildflowers to succeed and thrive without the need to use pesticide and the bulbs will give an early show of colour as they grow through. It will need a different management programme to the grass cutting with one late cut at the end of summer and the arisings will need to be removed to stop it fertilising the soil.

“We are hoping to replicate this in other areas of the county, working with town and community councils and volunteers as it takes careful management to sustain it and stop grass and weeds coming back and taking over again without the use of harmful weed killers.”

In an increased effort to improve the wildflower diversity on other council owned or managed sites we have also been trialling letting the grass grow and undertaking a late cut and collect. The photos show a site in Buckley which has been allowed to grow with cut footpaths. Feedback from the local community has been positive with increased invertebrates and wildflowers enjoyed on the site. 

The Coronation Meadow at County Hall in Mold has been under conservation management for over 5 years in partnership with the North Wales Wildlife Trust.